Electrothermostatic heat-regulator.



No. 852,773. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

L. G. GOPBMAN. ELECTROTHBRMOSTATIO HEAT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LLOYD GROFF COPEMAN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR Oli" ONF- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 2l,

Patented May 7, 1907'.

1906. Serial No. 318,034.

Be it known that I, LLOYD GROFF COPE- energy to the heater thereby to maintain the latter at a uniform temperature.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide an electro-magnetically operated switch connected in circuit with a .thermostat and adapted to make and break the circuit as the temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined degree.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting one of the contacts of the electro-magnetic switch and means for regulating the throw of the thermostatic bar whereby the temperature of the hea ting apparatus may be regulated to a nicety.

Vith these and other objects in view the inventionconsists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure l is a side elevation 'of the improved heat regulating means showing the same applied to a sadiron. Fig. 2 lis a diagrammatical view. Fig. -3 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion of the switch showing the contacts separated or in inoperative position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved heat controlling means may be used in connection with electric waterheaters, solder-irons, ilat irons, chatingl dishes 'and other electrical heating apparatus and by way of illustration is shown applied to a sad-iron of the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the body of the iron, 6 the handle and 7 the heating element preferably consisting of a plurality of coils of high resistance wire connected with an electric lighting circuit or other suitable source of electrical energy S as shown.

Connected in shunt with the main line 8 is an electro-magnetically operated switch preferably in the form of a solenoid f) the movable armature 1.0 of which is formed of a plurality of tine wires terminating in a carbon tip 11 which constitutes a movable contact. The armature l() is insulated from the solenoid frame 1,2 by a disk of gutta-percha, isinglass or other non-conducting material 13 while the marginal tip or contact 11 is insulated from the armature 10 by a similar strip of non-conducting material 14. Depending. from the frame 12 is an angularly disposed supporting bracket 15 in which is threaded a screw 16 carrying a relatively stationaryv contact plate 17 the central portion of which is hollowed out to form a socket 1.8 adapted to receive the correspondingly curved end of the movable contact ll and thereby close the heating circuit 1.() to ell'cct the heating' of the iron or other apparatus. Secured to the iron 7 is a casing or housing 2() within which is disposed a thermostat for operating the switch to make and break the heating circuit. The thermostat consists of a support 2l to the opposite faces of which is secured by a binding screw 22 a pair of thermostatic bars 23 and 24 preferably formed of laminated metal consisting of one or more layers of iron and brass. The 'fixed ends ofthe bars 23 and 24 are insulated from the support b v a strip of gutta percha or other suitable material while the free ends thereof are spaced from thebar so as to permit free expansion and contraction of said bars. Secured to the bar 23 is an adjustable contact screw 25 the head of which passes through an opening in the casing for manipulation by the operator while the threaded end thereof extends through an aperture in lthe support for contact with the adjacent thermostatic bar. One terminal ofthe shunt circuit 27 is connected tothe fixed end of the thcrmostatic bar 231 whil the 'opposite terminal thereof is connected to the bar 24 so that when the bar 24 is moved laterally in contact with the screw 25 the solenoid will be actuated to separate the contacts 11 and 17 thereby to interrupt the heating circuit. r[he heating circuit 19 is connected to the contacts 11 and 17, respectively, and also to binding screws 28 secured to the handle or other suitable portion of the iron and which are in turn operatively connected with the resistance coils or other heating element.

y'vl'he thermostat may be set to operate at any desired temperature by means of a hand or pointer 32 secured to the screws 25 and co-operating with a graduated plate or dial 33, so that as the screw is adjusted vertically the pointer will successively register with the dicerent degrees or graduation on the dial.

The solenoid 9 is preferably inclosed in a suitable casing or housing 29 and the several Wires may be secured to a threaded plug 30 to permit the latter to be inserted in a correspondingly threaded socket 31 connected to the terminals of the lighting circuit.

Under normal conditions the movable contact 11. engages the socket of the relatively stationary contact member 17 thereby closing the circuit through the binding` post 28 and heating element 7 to the line, thus heating the iron and permitting the latter to be used in the ordinary manner. Should the iron become excessively heated the thermol Y static bar 24 will be moved laterally into engagement with the contact 25 and close the circuit through the solenoid Q thereby actuating the armature 10 to separate the contact 11 and 17 and interrupt the heating circuit. l hen the temperature of the iron falls below a predetermined degree the bar 24 will be moved to inoperative or normal position thus denergizing the solenoid and permittin the core or armature to drop by gravity ant automatically close the circuit through the contacts 11 and 17 as will be readily understood.

`Attention is called to the fact that by having the socket formed in the relatively stationary contact member the movable contact is positively locked in circuit closing position while by reason of the adjustability of the contacts 18 and 25 the temperature or heat radiating capacity of the iron may bel controlled at will.

l/Vhile the heat regulating means is shown and described in connection with a flat-iron it is obvious that the same may be used with equally good results in connection with Warming-pans, stoves, tea-kettles, boilers, curling-irons, and other electrically heated apparatus. The regulator may also be used for controlling the temperature of buildings, for sounding an alarm in case of fire in any portion of the building, for automatically cutting oft' the supply of water to a building in case the water in the service pipe freezes, or wherever an automatic regulator or circuit closer of this kind .is found desirable.

Having thusdescribed the invention what is claimed is:-

1. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid the armature ol which constitutes a movable contact, a relatively stationary contact disposed below the solenoid and having a socket formed therein for the reception of the movable contact, and a thermostat for operating the solenoid to make and break the circuit.

2. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid the armature of which constitutes a movable contact, a bracket depending from the solenoid and provided with av stationary contact having a socket formed therein for the reception of the movable contact, and a thermostat for operating the solenoid to separate the contacts and thereby make and breakthe circuit.

3. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid, an armature provided with a terminal contact insulated from said armature, a contact disposed below the armature and adapted to engage the armature contact, and a thermostat for operating the solenoid to separate the contacts thereby to make and break the circuit.

4. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid, an armature insulated fronrthe solenoid frame, a contact carried b v the armature and insulated from the same, a contact disposed beneath the solenoid and adjustable with respect to the armature contact, and a thermostat for operating the solenoid to make and break the circuit.

5. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid, a bracket depending from the solenoid, a screw threaded in the bracket and provided with a cup shaped contact, a contact carried by the armature. of the solenoid and insulated from said armature, and a thermostat adapted to operate the solenoid to make and break the circuit.

6. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a solenoid the armature of which constitutes a movable contact, and a relativelyv stationary contact disposed beneath the movable contact and provided with a socket for the reception of said movable contact, a thermostat for operating the solenoid to open and close the circuit, a casing for the switch, and a threaded plug associated with the casing Jfor connection with a socket carried b v the terminals of the energized circuit.

7. A circuit controller including an energized circuit, a perforated support carried by the heater and provided with an adjustable contact screw, a thermostaticbar secured to the support and adapted to engage the screw, a dial, a pointer carried by the screw and movable over the face ofthe dial, said pointer IIO being provided with a depending arm loosely ed to engage the adjacent bar for operating mounted in the perforation of the support, the switch, a dial, and a pointer carried by an electro -inagnetieally operated switch i the Contact screw and movable over tlio faee adapted to make and break the circuit, said l of the dial.

switch being operated by the thermostat. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as .o S. A circuit controller including an eneri my own, I have hereto aixed my signature gif/leid circildan electlo-mgneteally lper i in the presence of two witnesses:

ate swte a apte to ma e an. brea the i ,f U1 T circuit, a casing, a support arranged Within LLOD GROEP COL LMAB' the casing, a pair of thermostatie bars earlVitnesses:

ried by and insulated from the support, a LLOYD E. GANDY,

Contact screw secured to one bar and ladapt- E. G. CORNELIUS.

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